The Chiaroscuro Quartet performs on historical instruments, including a 1570 Andrea Amati violin, a c. 1700 Willems viola, and a 1720 Carlo Tononi cello.
Composition History
Mozart sold these three quartets to the Viennese publisher Artaria for a "derisory sum" due to desperate financial need, and they were published without a dedication to the king after Mozart's death.
Interpretation
The Chiaroscuro Quartet is known for its "authentic performance" of High Classical chamber music, playing on gut strings, which contributes to its unique sound.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Mozart's "exhausting labour" in writing these quartets suggests he set himself a particular challenge, aiming to flatter King Friedrich Wilhelm II's cello technique with prominent, grateful melodies.
Compositional Technique
To balance the cello's prominence, Mozart allotted more solos than usual to the second violin and especially the viola, which was his preferred instrument when playing quartets.
Composition History
Mozart began composing these quartets in 1789 with the intention of dedicating them to King Friedrich Wilhelm II of Prussia, hoping for a reward, but he never finished the planned set of six.
Performer Biography
The Chiaroscuro Quartet, formed in 2005, is an international ensemble that performs Classical period music on gut strings and has received awards like the Förderpreis Deutschlandfunk/Musikfest Bremen in 2013 and the Preis der deutschen Schallplattenkritik in 2015.
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Haydn: String Quartets, Op. 20 Nos. 1-3 "Sun Quartets" (On Period Instruments)
Haydn: String Quartets, Vol. 1 — Op. 20 Nos. 1-3
Haydn: String Quartets Nos. 5, 36 and 62
Mozart: String Quartets, Vol. 1 – The Prussian Quartets
Mozart: Preussische Quartette
Haydn: String Quartets, Op. 54 & 55
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: String Quartets No. 21, K. 575, No. 22, K. 589 & No. 23, K. 590 "Prussian Quartets"
